What is Network Detection and Response (NDR)? Network detection and response (NDR) is a new category of cybersecurity solutions that focuses on monitoring network traffic, detecting, and responding to cyber threats.
As networks become more complex and distributed, organizations need to have eyes everywhere, so they can detect and stop threats before a disaster. These solutions provide visibility to known and unknown threats coming to the network.
Unlike signature tools such as intrusion detection systems, NDR can detect unknown threats with non-recognized signatures. Most of these signature legacy tools don’t manage historical data to recognize attack patterns, which NDR can do.
Network detection and response tools use non-signature techniques such as machine learning to analyze network data. They use the data to create a baseline and then alert users when they detect suspicious behavior.
NDR solutions are considered a step beyond network traffic analysis because they integrate response capabilities. These may include threat hunting, incident response, and sending the order to the firewall to drop a suspicious package.
The constant increase in volume and complexity of attacks makes it difficult for legacy security tools to keep pace. Detecting known indicators of compromise (IoC) or attack patterns is not enough when cyber criminals seem to always be a step ahead. Organizations need to detect an advanced attack before it becomes a breach.
The enormous volume of data created and traveling across networks provides an ideal hideaway for attackers, whose activities are able to blend in with normal traffic patterns. Thus, attackers can dwell in the network for weeks or months, stealing data in small batches so they aren’t noticed.
Current attack tactics require a solution that can constantly monitor the network to detect abnormal behavior and stop intruders quickly. That’s where network detection and response (NDR) comes in.
Network security typically uses an array of tools for monitoring and intercepting malicious traffic. However, effective network security needs in-depth visibility into the network so they can respond quickly. Network detection and response tools give security teams real-time awareness of network data for quick and meaningful analysis.
NDRs are often integrated as part of broader security solutions, like security information and event management (SIEM) and endpoint detection and response (EDR). Both SIEM and NDR solutions use log analysis to produce high-relevance contextual alerts as part of a whole security solution. This integration gives a comprehensive approach to the attack surface.
There are several types of Network Detection and Response solutions, and each one is unique. Still, there are key aspects common to all of them. Here is a short list:
Network detection and response (NDR) solutions enable users to quickly receive threat visibility across an environment. NDR solutions complement other security tools like SIEM (security information and event management) and endpoint detection and response (EDR). Using these technologies together enables the creation of an entire span of visibility.
Network detection and response solutions improve every stage of the threat detection and response process:
Network detection and response (NDR) solutions can be managed, operated or automated.
How can you choose the right NDR solution for your company? There are three key parameters you should look when browsing for an NDR solution:
